Problem logging in to Thunderbird, interference from Google
13 Nov. I have been dealing with the problem of the requirement to sign in to Thunderbird using Google. It does not work. I enter my e-mail address, click next, and get a second window that says "Error 400". I tried to get some help with this through a company listed on the internet as Just Answer. That turned out to be a scam.
Someone called me this morning, offering to help me with this problem. The person was from the company The Web Services. While the technician from Web Services was working on my computer for a while to restore my Thunderbird files, he told he that they kept losing the internet connection to my computer. He said they had determined that they kept losing the internet connection, because some hackers were hacking into my computer, while they were working. He showed me a lot of evidence of hacking on my computer, indicating that the 2 technicians from Just Answer who had helped me the day before through long chats were hacking into my computer the entire time they were chatting with me, going through steps they said would solve the problem with having to sign in to Thunderbird using Google. I think the people from Just Answer had tried to create a Thunderbird back-up profile, but had not done it correctly. As a result, all the data within Thunderbird was lost. I cancelled my subscription with Just Answer today.
The technician from The Web Services was able to restore my Thunderbird, including the many local files I have. Some additional formatting of the site still needs to be done, and the correct server settings need to be set up. That is to be finished tomorrow morning. The Web Services person also sold me an anti-hacking firewall, which is supposed to also provide network security.
I am concerned, because on the Mozilla support page, it specifically states that Thunderbird does not offer phone support. I gave this company access to my computer today, so they could restore my Thunderbird files. The Thunderbird files have been restored. Now I see that the issue with trying unsuccessfully to sign in to Thunderbird using Google is still there. So I am right back where I started over a week ago, trying to find someone who can solve the issues that come up when I try to sign into Thunderbird with Google.
I am somewhat suspicious of the company The Web Services, because they called me and offered to fix the problems I am having with signing in to Thunderbird. Please let me know whether it was unwise to let them work on my computer today. Could this be another scam? Thank you.
Wšě wotmołwy (7)
Please let me know whether it was unwise to let them work on my computer today. Could this be another scam?
Since they were calling you, this should already ring all the alarm bells. So yes, I think it was unwise to let them onto your computer, and most likely that was another scam.
The Web Services person also sold me an anti-hacking firewall, which is supposed to also provide network security.
Windows has a built-in firewall, and, along with Windows Defender as anti-virus software, that's all you need. So I'd remove whatever software was installed by "The Web Services" person.
I have been dealing with the problem of the requirement to sign in to Thunderbird using Google.
You do not login to Thunderbird. You do use Thunderbird to login to Google's Gmail server.
I enter my e-mail address, click next, and get a second window that says "Error 400".
Please post a screenshot of the error message. https://support.mozilla.org/kb/how-do-i-create-screenshot-my-problem
Also, please post your Troubleshooting Information. At the top right of the Thunderbird window, click the menu button ≡, then select Help > Troubleshooting Information. Press the "Copy text to clipboard button" and paste the information into your reply.
I am going to take my Dell desktop to a computer shop tomorrow. I am hoping they will install a new form of Thunderbird onto an external computer, and then let me try to log in to Thunderbird on that version.
That sounds like a bad idea. I'd not want to setup all my email accounts on someone's else computer.
If that works, then it will be an indication that the version I have been using on my Dell desktop is corrupted.
There is probably nothing wrong with your Thunderbird installation, although it would help if you'd mention what version you're running. The problem is most likely in your Thunderbird profile. All your data such as messages, passwords and user preferences, and changes made while you use Thunderbird, are stored in a special folder called a profile. Your profile folder is stored in a separate place from the Thunderbird program, so that if something ever goes wrong with Thunderbird your information will still be there. It also means that you can uninstall Thunderbird and reinstall without losing your settings and data.
I'm not sure whether the technician will have to make a Thunderbird-Profile_back up before he removes the Thunderbird data from my computer.
It is always a good idea to create a full backup of your Thunderbird profile. https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/profiles-where-thunderbird-stores-user-data#w_backing-up-a-profile
15 Nov. 2025 Christl, Thank you very much for your reply. Now I know where to find the Thunderbird profile. I am using version145 of Thunderbird.
I apologize about the profanity above. A scammer is trying to force me to pay him for something my computer does not need.
You said that my T-bird profile might be the source of the problem. How would a technician working on my computer be able to determine that, and fix it? I see there is a Wizard for creating a new profile. If he uses the Wizard to create a back-up profile, will the back-up profile have the same problems as the Profile that is now stored on T-bird?
It is my understanding that there must be a back-up profile created in order to ensure that all the local folders will be preserved, when T-bird is removed to a different computer, and then a new, fresh version of T-bird is installed on the new computer. After that, the files could be returned from the external computer back to my computer. Does the back-up-profile have to be removed from the computer with the T-bird files when the corrupted version of T-bird is removed, and then moved back when the T-bird files are put back onto my computer into the newly installed version of Thunderbird? Can a profile be moved from one computer to another? I will look forward to getting more of an explanation. Thank you very much.
Dyrbiće so pola swojeho konta přizjewić, zo byšće na přinoški wotmołwił. Prošu stajće nowe prašenje, jeli hišće wužiwarske konto nimaće.